Sacilotto vows to give title chasers tough time

Enio Sacilotto insists his Bracknell Bees side will be doing everything in their power to upset the title aspirations of Sheffield Steelers and Belfast Giants.

Both those clubs play Bees in the final weekend of the regular season — but only one will be crowned Superleague champions on Sunday.

Bees travel to Sheffield on Saturday (7pm face-off) with Steelers knowing that a victory would restore them to the top of the table and leave the title race in their own hands going into their final game at Nottingham Panthers.

A defeat for Steelers, though, would hand the advantage back to Belfast who would then come to the John Nike Leisuresport Complex on Sunday (6pm) needing only to match Sheffield's result at arch rivals Nottingham to retain their title.

Ironically Belfast clinched the league in Bracknell last season, following a 2-2 draw with Bees at the Hive 13 months ago.

If Belfast were to win, it would be a third league title in four years for coach Dave Whistle, who led Bees to their only Superleague crown in 1999-2000.

Sacilotto, his successor at Bracknell for the last three seasons, believes Belfast would make worthy champions.

"In my opinion they have been the best team we have played," said Bees' boss. "They have the most skill, most speed and have a good combination of toughness and size."

But Sacilotto warned: "We shall be doing everything we can to win both our games this weekend - just as we always do. Our record this season shows we have not been too successful, but we will be trying our utmost."

Whatever the outcome on Sunday, the 2002-3 league champions will not be presented with the Monteith Bowl until their next home match, which will be in the Championship play-offs.

In preparation for the play-offs, Sacilotto will give a game each to netminders Brian Greer and Joe Watkins, who kept a shut-out in Wednesday night's 3-0 Challenge match win over his former club Basingstoke Bison.

Making his ISL debut will be new defenceman Chad Nelson, who played against Basingstoke only hours after getting off a plane from Canada. Sacilotto said: "He looked good but we need to get him involved in ISL competition as soon as possible."